Come Pick Me Up

I was at 821 Cafe having breakfast with a couple of The Girls on Saturday morning, as has become tradition. As soon as we walked in I noticed the music, but it didn't really register until a few songs in that it was Ryan Adams. I should have known that only his voice could put me in the Saturday-morning-wide-smile-mood that came over me (though some credit has to go to 821's ginormous tasty biscuits).

Not since Tori Amos (oh, the stories!) has an artist had such an effect on me. I suppose it's the good times I associate with his wide catalog of albums -- as a solo artist, with The Cardinals and with Whiskeytown. Whiskeytown was a Saturday morning staple in my apartment for the first few months after I was introduced to them and those sunny memories still resonate with me -- as do the good times with great friends while Ryan wailed away in the background. I turn an ear whenever I hear his voice coming out of a speaker -- like last week on Main Street outside Visions Salon when I heard "My Winding Wheel" blaring out of a parked car or several weeks prior to that when Bandito's gave me a double dose of his soothing voice at happy hour -- a happy hour indeed!

Today, I was catching up on my I Am Fuel, You Are Friends reading and there posted like a treasure were two more tracks from Ryan's upcoming album, Easy Tiger, due out June 5. If you're a fan, run over and pick them up while they're still available. You'll be Saturday-morning-wide-smiling too!

You say you want a revolution!

Courtesy of moveon.org:

Today, I learned about a really important issue, and signed a petition about it. The federal government is on the verge of turning over a huge portion of our public airwaves to companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast--who will use them for private enrichment instead of the public good.

These newly available airwaves are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revolutionize Internet access -- beaming high-speed signals to every park bench, coffee shop, workplace, and home in America. Phone and cable companies don't want this competition to their Internet service--they'd rather purchase the airwaves at auction and sit on them.

You can sign the petition I signed here - urging the government to make sure the public airwaves are used for the public good: http://civic.moveon.org/airwaves/?r_by=10433-5391408-LZOEYs&rc=confemail.

In Honor

In honor of Memorial Day I suggest each of you -- along with every other American -- read the book I just finished. Chasing Ghosts -- Failures and Facades in Iraq: A Soldier's Perspective by Paul Rieckhoff. This uncensored account of the life of a soldier -- a First Lieutenant and Infantry Platoon Leader -- stationed in Iraq just weeks after the invasion in March 2003 is a harrowing account of the early days of the war. I had a hard time putting the book down as it was both frightening real and entertaining. Rieckhoff and the other members of his U.S. Army National Guard Infantry Platoon are endearing "characters" -- I cheered for them when they succeeded and cried for them when they didn't. Reading how our government failed them made me angry and upon reading the last page I wanted to make a difference, just like Rieckhoff, who upon returning home became the Executive Director and Founder of Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of American (IAVA), the first nonprofit organization for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

His story will help you understand the conflict, our soldiers, the people of Iraq, our government and our president through the words of a soldier who fought the fight. Interestingly, Reickhoff is the first soldier to return from battle and speak out against the conflict and our country. I applaud him, as will you, for not only having the courage to go to battle but to then take on the system that sent him there.

For more information visit IAVA, Chasing Ghosts or Paul Reickhoff's MySpace page.

Dark Day

From Moveon.org:

Last night, Congress sent the president a blank check to continue the war through the summer. Anyway you slice it, it stinks. The worst part is that too many Democrats—who we elected in November with a clear mandate to lead us out of the chaos in Iraq—crumbled when we needed them to fight. In these moments, it's tempting to throw our hands up and walk away. But it's also acutely clear that there is no one else who will fight this fight. Either we do it, each one of us, or no one does.

It's a dark moment, but there are some hopeful signs that point the way ahead. In the Senate, Democratic presidential candidates Dodd, Obama and Clinton stood firm against this weak bill and voted 'no.' In the House, they were joined by 140 Democrats. It's not nearly enough. But it's a start.

Included in the group who voted for the bill was Jim Webb (D), our Virginia senator, who I contacted earlier in the week asking him to vote against the weak bill that did not include a timeline for withdrawal. Now, I know that one little email isn't going to turn the tide, but my message along with several hundred other voters could. It's not too late to express your feelings about Webb's and our other lawmakers' decisions. If you want to have a voice you can still contact your senator -- with a "wtf?" message if they voted for it or a "great job, keep it up!" message if they voted against it. Democratic congressmen especially need a reminder to stand up and use their majority power for good.

Be Heard

I emailed my Senator today. Via his website, I contacted Senator Jim Webb (D) asking him to stand strong against the weak, watered-down Iraq funding bill our lawmakers are facing this week. If you have any opinion against this war, I encourage you to do the same.

If you don't know who your representatives are, shame on you. If you are a Virginian, your Senators are Jim Webb (D) and John Warner (R). Along with your Congressman in the House of Representaives they work for you. Representing my districit, the 3rd Congressional District of Virginia, is Robert "Bobby" Scott (D).

Elected to represent the people, by the people. They are your voice in our government. Be heard.

Tis the season

It's graduation time and I want to send a big ol' Congratulations out to Cliff at Inbound Gowanus as he graduated from VCU's AdCenter program on Saturday. I ran into Cliff at the Emmylou Harris show on Brown's Island Saturday and he was quite literally beaming. Good luck Cliff as you find your new path!

Another gorgeous weekend in Richmond brought a good friend home. Kyle's been in town for several days and we enjoyed a great evening with friends Friday -- including a tasty late dinner at Edo's Squid. I highly recommend it as a dinner spot for a group. The family style dining gave us the opportunity to try several different dishes -- the best of which, I think we all agreed, was the duck breast. Close second was the carbonara, which is always a crowd favorite.

The culinary adventures continue today as we head out to the Lebanese Food Festival. My friends and I were a bit sad to learn that the normally huge Greek Festival held each spring in the near West End would be put on hold this year due to construction at the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Malvern Avenue. Though they'll have a drive-thru for food (May 31 - June 3), there's no substitute for the very Richmond festival with it's wine, people watching and atmosphere. So until next year, we'll get our Mediterranean food fix at the Lebanese Festival at St. Anthony's Maronite Catholic Church on Sadler Road in Glen Allen. I've got my tastes set for the generous servings baba ghanoush, tabouli and hummus -- three things you won't find at the Greek festival!

Make it a Late Night

Just in case you're out there catching up on your blogs tonight thought I'd share a bit of late night talk show news I stumbled upon over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends. M.Ward will be performing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien! But wait, that's not all, as it gets way better. Joining him will be Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Jim James (JIM JAMES!!), Mike Coykendall, Than Lau, and Adam Selzer. The ensemble will perform M. Ward's "Chinese Translation". Grab a latte and set your alarms -- or, catch it on uTube tomorrow.

Minor Musical Miracles

Miracles do happen. The Richmond summer concert season just got a little brighter. First I learned the Black Crowes would be in town again this summer -- not a huge fan, but it's progress. Then The Roots -- getting better. Drive by Truckers and The SLIP at Friday Cheers -- exciting news. And then, just 20 minutes ago, I opened Gmail and beams of hope shot from my screen. Nickel Creek with special guest Fiona Apple -- right here in Richmond -- Friday, August 3 at the newly named snag-a-job.com/Innsbrook Pavilion. This, to me, is big news for our fair, live music deprived, capitol city!

The news of Nickel Creek performing is not just big news because they will be in Richmond, but I read months ago that they'd broken up, which made their show at Bonnaroo last summer all the more meaningful for me. That show still goes down as one of the best I've heard -- period. I'd never enjoyed a show as much before. As for Fiona Apple, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for her. She sang my best friend and me through our four years at Longwood, bonding us to this day. Her first album, Tidal, is most definitely one of my desert island albums.

And speaking of great live music, I saw The Derek Trucks Band at Innsbrook last night. I'd only heard snippets of his stuff before going to the show and I am here to report that if you have the opportunity to see Derek and his band, take advantage and go. I really enjoyed his set -- and if you were standing behind me, you saw the head and ass shaking to prove it. Normally, I'd deny being a jam band fan, but I certainly couldn't hide it last night.

The next show on the No Filter concert calendar is Saturday the 19th on Brown's Island. The girls and I will be volunteering with the Wachovia Securities CanalWalk and as payment for our good deed we get tickets to see Emmylou Harris perform. Sweet!

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I almost forgot, a new Ryan Adams album to be released later this summer followed by a fall tour with the Cardinals. Oh, how very excited I am indeed!

Someone who gets it right

I've been trying my damndest to verbalize how I feel about Andrew Bird's music here at No Filter but I've just not been very satisfied with the outcome. Heather over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends summed up a recent Andrew Bird show in Colorado quite nicely. Pay her a visit and pick up a few souvenir mp3s while you're there.

And, if her post inspires you, he'll be playing at the 9:30 Club in just two Sunday's. Someone please save my Mother (sha -- like I'd tell her!) the agony of worrying about me going to DC all alone and come with. I have no shame in begging -- if only via the protection of No Filter.

F.U.G.W.B.

Gmail's RSS feed threw this at me today.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/01/congress.iraq/index.html

I am so full of fury over this war, our President (who's name I can no longer say aloud without cringing) and his staff, I get tense all over just thinking about it. It doesn't help that I submerge myself in documentaries, Sunday morning political commentary and read as much as I can get my hands on to educate myself on the travesty that is our current administration. It doesn't even do much good to wish time away until the election in '08 or the blessed inauguration in '09 that will oust our lying, sack of shit . . . er, ok, I'm getting carried away, and I think you get my drift but really, why aren't more people as angry as I am over the lies and deceit? Is everyone shrugging their shoulders in unison saying, what does it have to do with me?

Interesting that this is only the second time during this administration that ole G.W. has used his power of veto -- the first, in July 2006, killed a bill that would have expanded federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. This man lifts his veto pen, not once, but twice, to essentially wipe away bills that would save lives -- lives saved by research and those saved by pulling our troops out of Iraq. F-U Mr. President. F-U.

Let's pretend we're in Antarctica

Zworks Lyrics Search has come through for me once again -- as did the Showtime series Weeds. I have found some great music through that show. This time it was a catchy little tune playing whilst the credits ran. I learned it was "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games", a track from Of Montreal's 20o5 release The Sunlandic Twins. It's poppy, fun and I feel as if I've heard it in a VW commercial or some other ad targeted toward the 20-somethings. I'm, as of this moment, downloading the aforementioned album as well as the EP Icons, Abstract Thee. Oh new and interesting music, how I adore thee!